NEW ZEALAND DISASTERS AND TRAGEDIES
THE SINKING OF THE APARIMA
TORPEDOED IN THE ENGLISH CHANNEL BY A GERMAN U-BOAT WITH THE LOSS OF 58 LIVES [INCLUDING 16 NEW ZEALANDERS]
MONDAY 19 NOVEMBER 1917
On the 19 November 1917, the Aparima was torpedoed was on her way from London to New York. She was very well known in Wellington for many years and was after the withdrawal of the ship Dartford, used as a training ship for the Union Steam Ship Company's apprentices. She was one of the largest cargo vessels in the company being of 5704 tons gross. Her dimensions were: Length 430 ft, breadth 54ft, and depth 28ft. She was built of steel in 1902 by Denny Bros. of Dumbarton.
The Aparima had been taken over by the British Admiralty and when she left New Zealand for Britain the crew had consisted of the master, four deck officers, seven engineers, 30 cadet apprentices, two wireless operators, seven able seaman and three stewards. Also on board were two Chinese and 59 Indians [Lascars] (2 on deck, 41 in stokehold and 16 stewards) - a total of 115.
After arriving in London, the ship then left for New York - it is said with no changes in the personnel of the crew. There were no passengers or troops on board. It sunk within five minutes with a loss of 58 lives, including 16 New Zealanders.
The New Zealanders were: -
SURNAME | CHRISTIAN NAMES | FROM | OCCUPATION | AGE | NEXT OF KIN | MEMORIAL | BORN | ALSO SEE |
BANNANTYNE | Walter James | Waikouaiti | Cadet | 16 | Son of Ellen BANNANTYNE of Waikouaite, New Zealand. | Tower Hill Memorial | 1901/6410 Bannatyne Walter James Ellen Alexander | Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 281, 24 November 1917, Page 6 |
BARGROVE | Geoffrey Robert | Christchurch | Cadet | - | Son Robert and Edith BARGROVE | Tower Hill Memorial | 1901/2013 Bargrove Robert Geoffrey Edith Robert | - |
DANIEL | Harry Archibald | Newcastle, NSW | Chief Officer | 29 | Son of the late Samuel George and Elizabeth DANIEL; husband of Alice Maud DANIEL, of Brigerton House, 196, Hammell St., Wickham, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. | Tower Hill Memorial | Kaitangata 1888/10696 Daniel Harry Archibald Elizabeth | Clutha Leader, Volume XLIV, Issue 42, 27 November 1917, Page 3 |
HOARE | Donovan O'Bryen | Christchurch | Cadet | 18 | Son of Florence HOARE of Patea, New Zealand. | Tower Hill Memorial | 1899/7744 Hoare Donovan O'Bryan Florence Philip | - |
MacDONALD [McDONALD] | Colin Boyd | Mornington, Dunedin | Cadet | - | [Son of Captain Colin McDONALD marine superintendent of the Union Steam Ship Co, Dunedin] | Tower Hill Memorial | - | Press, Volume LIII, Issue 16067, 24 November 1917, Page 8 |
MARSHALL | Robert Joseph | Westport | Cadet | - | [Son of Mr and Mrs A G MARSHALL, Denniston] | Tower Hill Memorial | 1898/15511 Marshall Robert Joseph Lillian Elizabeth Alexander Gilchrist | Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14574, 28 November 1917, Page 4, Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 80, 2 October 1934, Page 4 |
MARSHALL | Adam Houliston | Kaitangata | Cadet | - | [Eldest son of Mr and Mrs Donald MARSHALL, Kaitangata, and grandson of Adam HOULISTON, Kakapuaka] | Tower Hill Memorial | Earnslaw Flat, Alexandra 1900/15995 Marshall Adam Housliston Jane Lowrie | Clutha Leader, Volume XLIV, Issue 42, 27 November 1917, Page 3 |
MASSEY | Leon Joseph | Gisborne | Cadet | 18 | Son of Mrs Edith French MASSEY of Pensions Dept., Customs Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand. [Grandson of Mr J WARREN, clerk to the Cook County Council] | Tower Hill Memorial | 1899/4828 Massey Leon Joseph Edith French Alfred Jame | Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 52, 24 November 1917, Page 8 |
McKENZIE | Ian Kenneth | Auckland | Cadet | - | Nephew of Captain I McKENZIE. [Father probably Captain Murdoch McKENZIE died 01 Nov 1901 leaving four young sons] | Tower Hill Memorial | 1897/8045 McKenzie Ian Kenneth Lillie Murdoch | Otago Daily Times , Issue 17183, 10 December 1917, Page 4 |
MILLINGTON | Robert Perrett Taipo | Auckland | Wireless Operator | - | Husband of Mrs M F MILLINGTON, Featherston St., Wellington, New Zealand. [Son of Dr J P Millington, of Greymouth, now of Auckland] | Tower Hill Memorial | West Coast 1892/2869 Millington Robert Perrett Taipo Mary Perrett | Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14574, 28 November 1917, Page 4, Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 126, 24 November 1917, Page 6 |
PROUDFOOT | John Frederick | Christchurch | Cadet | 16 | Son of Mrs Mary PROUDFOOT of Queenstown, New Zealand. | Tower Hill Memorial | 1900/16950 Proudfoot John Frederick Mary John | - |
RAMSAY | Alex McKinley | Roslyn, Dunedin | Cadet | 18 | [Son of late Alexander RAMSAY, Inspector of Machinery, Dunedin, and grandson of Mrs James MacALPINE] Son of Mrs Elizabeth RAMSAY of 19 Bruce Street, Roslyn, Dunedin | Tower Hill Memorial | 1900/8094 Ramsay Alexander McKinley Elizabeth Alexander | Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 54, 27 November 1917, Page 4, Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 281, 24 November 1917, Page 6 |
ROGERSON | Thomas | Gore | Chief Engineer | c43 | [Eldest son of Mr S ROGERSON, Gore Otago Daily Times , Issue 17178, 4 December 1917, Page 4] | Tower Hill Memorial | 1872/39499 Rogerson Thomas Rogerson Janet Samuel | Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 130, 29 November 1917, Page 7 |
SHAW | William | Greymouth | Cadet | 15 | Son of William and Kate SHAW of Dunolie, West Coast, New Zealand | Tower Hill Memorial | Said to be born Altrincham, Cheshire, England | - |
SMITH | John Gordon | Waihiuku (Waihiku) | Cadet | - | Son of Alex SMITH of Wharanui, Marlborough | Tower Hill Memorial | Said to be born Scotland | - |
WILLIAMS | William Harry | Clevedon, Auckland | Cadet | - | Son of Phyllis Hannah WILLIAMS, Postmistress, Clevedon | Tower Hill Memorial | 1897/7941 Williams William Harry Phyllis Hannah William Harry | CLEVEDON WAR MEMORIAL |
Other crew on board included: -
SURNAME | CHRISTIAN NAMES | FROM | OCCUPATION | AGE | NEXT OF KIN | NOTES | ALSO SEE |
ADAMS | J | - | Cadet | - | - | Aparima Survivors - Returned to Auckland | Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 62, 13 March 1918, Page 10 |
ANNANDALE | V H or N H | - | Cadet | - | - | Aparima Survivors - Returned to Auckland | Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 62, 13 March 1918, Page 10 |
BARR | H H | - | Fourth Engineer | - | - | Aparima Survivors - Returned to Auckland | Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 62, 13 March 1918, Page 10 |
BEVAN | T E [E] | - | Cadet | - | - | - | New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16802, 19 March 1918, Page 6, Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 62, 13 March 1918, Page 10 |
CADWALLADER | W | - | Cadet | - | - | Crew when left from Auckland | Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 280, 23 November 1917, Page 3 |
CHALMERS | Geoffrey Walter | Sayescourt, Tasmania, Australia | Cadet | - | [Son of Robert Hamilton and Emily CHALMERS] | Tower Hill Memorial | - |
CHRISTIAN | W | Liverpool | Second Steward | - | - | Tower Hill Memorial | Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 286, 30 November 1917, Page 4 |
CLAYTON [EVERY-CLAYTON] [CHAYTOR] | J | - | Cadet | - | - | Aparima Survivors - Returned to Auckland | Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 280, 23 November 1917, Page 3 |
COOPER [McGOPER] | G M | - | Third Officer | - | - | Aparima Survivors - Returned to Auckland | Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 62, 13 March 1918, Page 10 |
DALGLEISH | G S | - | Tutor | - | - | Crew when left from Auckland/Left ship in London to join naval service (was originally thought to be amongst missing) | Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 280, 23 November 1917, Page 3, Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 286, 30 November 1917, Page 4 |
DAVIES [DAVIS] | T H | - | Cadet | - | - | Aparima Survivors - Returned to Auckland | Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 62, 13 March 1918, Page 10 |
DENHOLM | A | - | Cadet | - | - | Aparima Survivors - Returned to Auckland | Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 62, 13 March 1918, Page 10 |
DOORLY | James Gerald Stokely | - | Master | - | - | - | New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16802, 19 March 1918, Page 6 |
DWYER | A | - | AB | - | - | Aparima Survivors - Returned to Auckland | Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 62, 13 March 1918, Page 10 |
ELDER | E | - | AB - Boatswain (replacement from London ?) | - | - | Aparima Survivors - Returned to Auckland | Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 62, 13 March 1918, Page 10 |
FERRIS | G J or Q J or R J | - | AB - Boatswain | - | - | Not on CWGC as FERRIS | - |
FLEMING | N F or H S | - | Fifth Engineer | - | - | Aparima Survivors - Returned to Auckland | Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 62, 13 March 1918, Page 10 |
FOX | V | - | AB | - | - | Aparima Survivors - Returned to Auckland | Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 62, 13 March 1918, Page 10 |
GUNN | K A | - | Third Engineer | - | - | Aparima Survivors - Returned to Auckland | Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 62, 13 March 1918, Page 10 |
HIRST | H W or W B | - | Second Engineer | - | - | Aparima Survivors - Returned to Auckland | Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 62, 13 March 1918, Page 10 |
JOHNSON [JOHNSTON] | A | - | Boatswain | - | - | Aparima Survivors - Returned to Auckland | Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 62, 13 March 1918, Page 10 |
MACKIE [McKIE] | James | Capetown, South Africa | Chief Steward | 47 | Born in Scotland. Husband of Sophie Elizabeth MACKIE. | Melcombe Regis Cemetery, Dorset, England | Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 286, 30 November 1917, Page 4, New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16802, 19 March 1918, Page 6, Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 60, 4 December 1917, Page 6 |
MAYO | Maurice Hamor | - | Seventh Engineer | - | - | Aparima Survivors - Returned to Auckland | Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14651, 4 March 1918, Page 4, Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 62, 13 March 1918, Page 10 |
McDONALD | George McKenzie | Stornoway, Scotland | Second Officer | 33 | Son of Mary McDONALD (nee McKenzie), of 18, Church St., Partick, Glasgow, and the late Donald McDonald. Born at Goven, Stornoway, Scotland | Tower Hill Memorial | - |
McINTYRE [LAWYER ?] | A | - | AB | - | - | Aparima Survivors - Returned to Auckland | Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 62, 13 March 1918, Page 10 |
McKEEGAN | J J | - | Sixth Engineer | - | - | Aparima Survivors - Returned to Auckland | Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 62, 13 March 1918, Page 10 |
McKINNON [MacKINNON] | L | - | AB | - | - | Aparima Survivors - Returned to Auckland | Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 62, 13 March 1918, Page 10 |
MILLWARD | W | - | Cadet | - | - | Aparima Survivors - Returned to Auckland | Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 62, 13 March 1918, Page 10 |
MURRAY | J | - | Cadet | - | - | Aparima Survivors - Returned to Auckland | Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 62, 13 March 1918, Page 10 |
NEWTON | Sydney Allison | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | Cadet | 17 | Son of J A NEWTON of 370 Bourke St, Melbourne, Australia | Tower Hill Memorial | He was born at St. Kilda on 20 January 1900, the son of Joseph Allison and Bridget Frances (nee O�Reilly) Newton, and attended Scotch College, Melbourne, from 11 February 1908 to 15 May 1914 when he left to become a naval cadet. [Scotch College Archive and Museum 23 Apr 2015] |
PERRY | Frank | Barking, England | AB - Quartermaster | - | Son of the late Frank and Laura PERRY | Tower Hill Memorial | - |
SCANTLEBURY | W | - | Cadet | - | - | Aparima Survivors - Returned to Auckland | Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 62, 13 March 1918, Page 10 |
SHAKESPEARE | W [W S] | - | Cadet | - | - | Aparima Survivors - Returned to Auckland | Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 62, 13 March 1918, Page 10 |
STACEY | Aubrey Beckingham Neale | Newton, Melbourne, Victoria | Cadet | - | Son of Mrs L A STACEY of 64, Neill St., Carlton, Melbourne. | Tower Hill Memorial | - |
SUTHERLAND | E | - | Cadet | - | - | Aparima Survivors - Returned to Auckland | Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 62, 13 March 1918, Page 10 |
TOWNSEND | Philip Mervyn Maunsell | Mornington, Victoria, Australia | Cadet | - | [Son of Samuel Philip TOWNSEND and Isabella nee RICHARDSON] | Tower Hill Memorial | - |
VIPAN | A F | - | First Wireless Operator | - | - | Aparima Survivors - Returned to Auckland | Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 62, 13 March 1918, Page 10 |
WILLIAMS | D | - | Cadet | - | - | Aparima Survivors - Returned to Auckland | Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 62, 13 March 1918, Page 10 |
FAMILIES I AM RESEARCHING | MISCELLANEOUS GENEALOGICAL STUFF | NEW ZEALAND — ON LINE GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY RESOURCES | NEW ZEALAND — YOUNG BOY IMMIGRANT SCHEME 1911 — 1914 | NEW ZEALAND DISASTERS AND TRAGEDIES | NEW ZEALAND MISCELLANEOUS GENEALOGICAL INDEXES | NEW ZEALAND LAND WARS — MISCELLANEOUS GENEALOGICAL INDEXES | NEW ZEALAND AND WORLD WAR ONE | NEW ZEALAND AND WORLD WAR TWO | NEW ZEALAND ROLLS OF HONOUR AND WAR MEMORIALS — BY LOCATION | NEW ZEALAND ROLLS OF HONOUR AND WAR MEMORIALS — BY CONFLICT | NEW ZEALAND ROLLS OF HONOUR — MILITARY NURSES | PAKEHA/MAORI TRANSLITERATIONS | PASSENGER LISTS TO NEW ZEALAND | SHAND — FAMILY HISTORY | SOUTH TARANAKI, NEW ZEALAND — GENEALOGICAL RESOURCES | SPONDON, DERBYSHIRE, ENGLAND — GENEALOGICAL RESOURCES | WANGANUI COLLEGIATE SCHOOL 1865 — 1947 | WESTERN BAY OF PLENTY, NEW ZEALAND — GENEALOGICAL RESOURCES